Nigel P Donovan 1961-2026

[Chris Rice]

I'm very sad to report the recent passing of my great friend, Nigel Donovan who lived in the Brighton area.

I remember first meeting Nigel in a game we played in a weekend tournament in Barking something like 45 years ago and I think at that point he was a member of the Charlton chess club. My vague recollection of the game was that it was even throughout though complicated and Nigel seemed to forget about his clock drifting down to 23 moves to play with 2 minutes left and this was back in the day when we had guillotine finishes rather than the comfortable increments of today. Despite me thinking he was never going to make the moves in time he did so comfortably and when we reached the time control we agreed a draw. After the game he went through the moves calmly explaining that he had actually more time than he usually had to make the moves! After that we went for a couple of pints and I found him really great company despite the fact that he hardly said very much at all and when I got a chance to put a team, the Jutes of Kent, in the 4ncl Nigel was one of my first choices to play for us. Nigel also played for the Kent County team for many years always playing on the top few boards as he was around the 2200 elo mark for most of that time.

There are many stories I could tell you about Nigel but I'm still processing that fact that he's gone. Nigel was a really good chess player and also was a great chess problem solver which not so many people knew about. So I'll leave you with Nigel's undoubtedly greatest game which features a combination so deep it has featured a lot in chess literature and was clearly Nigel's immortal game. His opponent, Chris Howell, was also a good friend of Nigel's and even though it was 29 years ago said yesterday "Nigel played the best game I've ever been on the receiving end of, a very fine player and a good friend. So sad." Just enjoy the game featuring a jaw dropping combination starting on the 22nd move. RIP Nigel

[Event "GBR-ch84 Major Open"] [Site "Hove"] [Date "1997.08.11"] [Round "7"] [White "Donovan, Nigel P"] [Black "Howell, Christopher I"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B30"] [WhiteElo "2125"] [BlackElo "2175"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "59"] [GameId "2332833596631160"] [EventDate "1997.08.04"] [EventType "swiss"] [EventRounds "11"] [EventCountry "GBR"] [SourceTitle "BritBase"] [Source "John Saunders"] [SourceDate "2025.02.21"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.02.21"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4 4. Nxd4 cxd4 5. O-O Qb6 6. a4 a6 7. Bc4 e6 8. d3 d6 9. f4 Nf6 10. e5 d5 11. exf6 dxc4 12. fxg7 Bxg7 13. Nd2 c3 14. Nc4 Qc6 15. Qg4 Bf6 16. bxc3 h5 17. Qe2 Kf8 18. Ba3+ Kg8 19. Rf3 Rh7 20. Rg3+ Kh8 21. Ne5 Qxa4 22. Be7 Qxa1+ 23. Kf2 Bg7 24. Bf6 Qc1 25. Bxg7+ Kg8 26. Bh6+ Kh8 27. Nxf7+ Rxf7 28. Qe5+ Kh7 29. Rg7+ Kxh6 30. Qg5# 1-0

[Roger de Coverly]

Nigel seemed to forget about his clock drifting down to 23 moves to play with 2 minutes left and this was back in the day when we had guillotine finishes rather than the comfortable increments of today.

I had a similar experience in a county match against him nearly 30 years ago. I had been much better in a Rook and Pawn ending but got it wrong allowing a drawing idea. He could perhaps have made an "unable to win" claim but his flag went before enough moves had been played to reach a position that was trivially drawn.

[AndyMack]

I first met Nigel in 1990, when we played in the first round of the Major Open. We had a good chat after the game, and over the next few years we got to know each other well, helped by having a number of friends in common. In the 1990s we were both part of a successful Kent County team, and from around 2004 we played together in the 4NCL for the Jutes of Kent — starting in the lowest league and making it all the way to the top division.
Nigel became one of my best friends: trusty, reliable, generous, funny, and always his own man. A true one‑off. We had some great trips with the Jutes of Kent to the European Club Cup in Israel in 2012 and Greece in 2013, as well as to tournaments in the Czech Republic, Croatia, Greece and the Netherlands, and he was a fabulous team man, always supportive of everyone else.
At his best, he was a very strong player, especially with the Black pieces. He also enjoyed poker, and had an encyclopaedic knowledge of prog rock music. In recent years he had settled in Hove, and when I visited him at the end of April he was very happy with his new flat, had a good circle of friends locally, and was enjoying life.
It seems that the end‑of‑June heatwave took him from us far too early.
Rest in peace, Nigel.

[John Upham]

Here is Nigel from the London Diamond Jubilee Congress of 2012

The e2e4 London Diamond Jubilee Congress was held at the Crowne Plaza, London-Gatwick Airport, Langley Drive, Crawley, RH11 7SX, England from June 2nd to June 6th, 2012

Nigel P Donovan at The e2e4 London Diamond Jubilee Congress which was held at the Crowne Plaza, London-Gatwick Airport, Langley Drive, Crawley, RH11 7SX, England from June 2nd to June 6th, 2012

_jeu0609_smaller.jpg (790.19 KiB) Viewed 1824 times

[Kevin Thurlow]

Very sad news - I only played him once but saw him at many events, really nice person, and a scary opponent!

[Nick Ivell]

RIP. Not sure our paths ever crossed. I did play a P Donovan at BUCA 1982; I assume that was a different person.

[John Upham]

RIP. Not sure our paths ever crossed. I did play a P Donovan at BUCA 1982; I assume that was a different person.

Possibly

https://rating.englishchess.org.uk/play ... de=221996H

[John Moore]

Very sorry to hear this news. I hadn't seen Nigel for a long time but we were part of a small group that played in the Major Open in the late 80s and early 90s and enjoyed a drink in the evening (and quite often at lunchtime as well!). As Chris has said, Nigel was excellent company.

[Nick Ivell]

Thank you John I am guessing it was Patrick I played when he was a student; I assume the two were not related. There were strong brothers around such as the Benjamins and the Arkells - the Kings too off the top of my head.

[Paul Heaton]

Likewise thanks to John’s photo I recall seeing him at many events and a very decent person.

Was there any particular reason he stopped playing competitively a decade ago?

Very sad news - I only played him once but saw him at many events, really nice person, and a scary opponent!

[Mark A Jordan]

I knew Nigel when we were both members of Charlton CC. A very nice guy and a formidable player at his best. I'm very sorry to hear this.

[James Plaskett]

My condolences.
Resident in Eastbourne, I believe, and married a Ukranian lady, also a chess player...

[Chris Rice]

My condolences.
Resident in Eastbourne, I believe, and married a Ukranian lady, also a chess player...

There were two Donovans that often got mixed up according to Nigel. As Nigel was always single and for the most part lived in Hove, I think you might be referring to Patrick Donovan whose partner is I believe a Lithuanian lady, Rasa Norinkeveciute.

[Simon Rogers]

Very sorry to hear about Nigel.
I was in contact with him a couple of times.
A jolly good fellow.
RIP